Blink courtesy notice

Very few of our present laws are enforced now. I see people speeding every day. At the chargepoint station I use, there is a big sign that you can be towed, I only have to call security.

 

I'm not going to change your mind.

Why not? Because I think it is far too much like the South Park Episode where the Hybrid driver goes and put's "fake tickets" on everyone elses automobile, with citations like "Failure To Care About The Earth".

Yes, I believe vehicle recharging spots....should LEGALLY be reserved for electric and rechargeable vehicles. I also believe that should be the law (everywhere) and enforced.

I also can commiserate with the frustration if you own an electric vehicle and find a spot taken by someone either not using the charging station, or not even driving an electric vehicle at all.

But generally in The USA, we don't "pre-enforce" laws before they exist. Even after they exist, in so much as something is a parking violation? We usually leave the enforcement of those laws, to law enforcement.

What's wrong with a personal campaign of awareness? I suppose nothing.

But I still think the majority of people uncaring or unaware enough to park in a charging spot, aren't going to be moved by a fake ticket, or a cutesy paragraph or two about the growth of electric vehicles, and the fact that you could be stranded at the mall.

I think if I was in your position, that is an EV driver occasionally discovering and ICE vehicle taking a charging spot and/or finding a fellow EV driver taking the spot but NOT using the charger, I'd either NOT react...but be upset, or leave a MUCH MORE CAUSTIC response.

Knock yourself out. Make as many fake tickets, and printed "The More You Know" service announcements as you want.

But I still think it's mostly a smug waste of time, and the best answer would be to put real effort into getting laws actually on the books governing the useage of these spots, and then letting law enforcement and actual fines for violation do the changing of peoples behavior.

Until then I see this action as very much fart and sniff.

 

The problem I see with these notices is that they do not apply to the PiP, or the Volt. We can easily make it home on gasoline when needed.

What I have been doing is to put a sales brochure for an EV, or PHEV, on their windshield. I think the brochure accomplishes the task of educating the driver about EVs and what the EV parking spaces are for.

Also, I leave a "OK TO UNPLUG" placard on my dash so that anyone who needs a charge can do so.

 

I just updated the notice, made it a little friendlier. I updated the original image:


I'm leaving the license plate etc fields there for now , in case you want to take it a step further, but I'd leave the fields open unless you are dealing with a repeat offender. Of course, if there is enough feedback indicating we should replace it with a generic notes field, I will do that.

The QR code is pointing to a thread which will be updated with more info explaining what it's all about (it has to point to somewhere). It's pretty easy to point it to a better resource if there is such thing, without having to change the QR code. I did a test print with 3 on 1 page, and it looks pretty good.

 

Yea I'm on the fence about this as well. The only reason I want to leave it there is so they wouldn't throw it on ground out of fear for a littering fine.

If I can come up with some other fresh content, then I could replace it tho.

 

just "key" them and go away with a smile on your face....LOL

 

The very reason I NEVER expect a public EVSE to be available is because there are a HUGE amount of plug-in's that squat at these things, when they are free. The dumb slob in an EV who hopes to get juice just to get home is hosed ... and that produces nothing but acrymony. Take away the free ones, and charge $2/hr and oh my god ... all holy hell breaks loose ... "outrageous!!!!". What the $2/hr price point does is put the 'need' on a true basis. The freeloaders move on, that way. Without a decent price (which the EVSE owner/operators are certainly entitled to), all the leaches come out of the wood work. I LOVE GE wattstations for that very reason. Even if you're fully charged ... leave it there ... and they keep charging you. As it should be ... after all ... you're preventing the owner/operator from breaking even ...

 

I'm guessing you posted in the wrong thread? This thread is about ways of informing people parked in the wrong spot why they shouldn't be parked there. Whether charging stations should be free etc, is for another thread.

 

Whether or not the charger is free makes a huge difference. You're far more likely to get the owner to do something if the opportunity for return on their investment (since they pay for equipment & installation, not Blink or Chargepoint) is impaired by an ICE owner who doesn't care.

We need a notice that's both friendly and extremely simple.

Something basic like: Parking in this spot prevents vehicles with a plug from using the charger. Then include a link for more info.

 

That's what the notice I posted is all about, I'm just waiting for more feedback before posting it online.

 

Overall your comment makes sense, however I notice you don't even own a PIP, so what qualifies you to comment. You can't plug in a 2004 Prius.

 

Some of us study extensively. You don't actually need to be behind the wheel, just be really observant and do lots of searching & reading.

 

hopefully its not too big of a shock but some people actually do have more than one car in their family

 

I think that most public charging stations should be free...and that places that get used a lot should just install more of them, rather than the token one or two. Additionally, each public charger should be strategically located such that the cable reaches at least four parking spaces. This means on a pole inbetween two rows of spaces and not on a wall. Of course, anything is better than nothing and each site is different. But since the DOE and other government incentives are being given to install many of these, the incentives should be tiered such that the more cars that the cable reaches the higher the incentive. I'd even allow a higher incentive for installing one or two charging stations but adding some level of extra wiring for easy expansion.

Hopefully, in 3 years or maybe 5 or 10 there will be many times more EVs and PHEVs. We shouldn't be looking at the few public charging stations out there as just getting token availability. These devices should last for a long time and we should be thinking of 5% of spaces having access to a plug...not one or two out of hundreds.

Mike

 

Easy solution: Require each elected official to drive an EV for a couple of months.

Now how do we do that?

Mike

 

TY John, the comment was directed at Hill, to fully understand the Prius you have to be intensely interested in the car, as you are. To your credit much of your knowledge is credited toward useage, PC, research and a lot of productive chatter. Hill obviously lacks any of these prerequisites.

 

Do you own a PIP, your sig block shows a 2004 Prius, which is fine. As a PIP owner and driver your opinions would differ by natural order.